When do I start worrying about DS's illness?

[rosettesforjill]

My 3-year-old DS has been ill for over a week and really isn't himself at all. He doesn't have a temperature (he did at the start of the illness) but is ever so lethargic and clingy and is refusing most food I have managed to persuade him to eat a bowl of blueberries and two cocktail sausages, but other than that he's only had half a crumpet and some toast and cereal for breakfast today.

He did eat at preschool yesterday but I'm worried that he's going to starve! He won't even eat a biscuit or a chocolate from his advent calendar. This has been going on since he first came down with whatever this is last Tuesday.

No other obvious symptoms other than a cough, which doesn't sound any worse than any standard cold. Just a bit down in the dumps but jabbering away happily when he spots something interesting. Keeps telling me emphatically that he doesn't feel poorly 🙄

Do I need to try to force more food down him? Do I take him to the GP?

I doubt very much that he will starve as long as he wasn't severely underweight before he was ill. It sounds like a virus or cold to me that needs to run its course but call the health visitor if you are worried, he/she will be able to reassure you.

He’s not going to starve!

Today he’s had toast, cereal, blueberries, a couple of cocktail sausages and a crumpet. It’s hardly nothing at all.

That's about what my toddler eats on an ordinary day...

My DS ate nothing but the odd handful of Shreddies for almost a week recently when he was ill. Keep the fluids up (including milk if he'll drink it) and don't stress.

The "back to health" diet for our DC is an iced lolly and a bag of quavers or a jelly. The lolly numbs their mouth & throat and a bit of sugar sparks them back into life. The quavers or jelly reinforce this and, suddenly, they are able to eat a cheese sandwich & back to full recovery.

Thank you for the reassurance - he has demanded several more sausages, another bowl of blueberries and is now tucking into a huge banana... now more worried that the cocktail sausages are setting a precedent for future terrible dinners!

My ds was the same when he had slapped cheek syndrome. Fully recovered. Don't worry

Do make sure he stays hydrated though.

He's been drinking fine thankfully and has now perked up significantly (just in time for bed!)

My 3 year old has been the same. Been sent home from preschool twice for being clingy and cuddly and not wanting to play. She's even turned down chocolate, cake and biscuits and just had a few nibbles of bits and pieces. 8 days later and I think we've turned a corner! 3 meals eaten today and much brighter.

Typical!
Hope he's better soon.